grassroots activism

James Fegel never expected to become a crusader. A Marine veteran and retired ironworker, Fegel stepped up to care for his young nephew after his brother’s sudden death. But instead of thanks, Suffolk County Family Court branded him a suspect and ripped the child from his care. That injustice lit a fire. Fegel turned his personal loss into a grassroots movement—Americans for Legal Reform—rallying families, veterans, and grandparents against what he calls “corrupt, closed-door courts.” With rallies, videos, and lawsuits, Fegel’s fight has become a battle cry: “Stand united for justice, for children, and for families across America.”